First take ever at recorderman method

[gdavi1]

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/84195_atsself.mp3


I used
mxl 992 LDC for left overhead
mxl 993 SDC for right overhead
Shure Sm57 on snare
Shure Sm57 on bass

and it all went in to a behringer 1222fx usb mixer

Honestly how did it come out?

[Greg_L]

Dude, that sounds kind of weird. I use the recorderman method and it works. You did something wrong. You got the kick leaning to the left and everything else centered and slightly right. No stereo image at all and it just sounds out of kilter. Before you go miking the kick and snare, learn to get a good and natural recording from just the overheads. The recorderman method, like any other stereo overhead setup, is very dependent on perfect mic positioning. Get the O/H's right first and then mix in some kick and snare. Take your time and get it right.

[Almy]

I hear some clipping as well, you might be recording too loud. I notice you are using a USB interface. Does that mean you aren't able to record the tracks individually?

One thing you can do to try and troubleshoot the stereo image. Keep the kick mic and the snare mic in the center. Pan one OH hard left and one OH hard right. It's not the only way to do it obviously, but try that and you'll start to see the difference in what a stereo image can do.

[coolsoundman]

I would agree with the others, no offense. get rid of the snare and kick drum. recorderman's method was used with two mic's. I guess add the other mics for more punch.

[Herm]

It sounds Dull to me. plus it sounds like the kick is stuffed full of something like a blanket thats way to big. Back the mic off of the rear head some it needs some air. Also is that a 20 inch kick?

[gdavi1]

it was an 18inch kick

[Rimshot]

You really need a good kick mic. Especially when you are working with a small gig-sized kick drum. Sure you can do all sorts of things after recording to make it sound better, but the SM 57 is a great mic, but not so great on kick. I know a lot of people use it for that, but it never really sounds good because it doesn't focus on the deeper frequency. There's a reason that they make kick mics, and when you are using a skeleton rig for recording (as I do), everything in your chain must be tops. An inexpensive kick mic like the ATM Pro 25 wuold give you a vaste improvement in your sound.... and yeah as was mentioned, let your skins breathe a lot more and loose a lot of the padding. "Garbage in-garbage out"

[gdavi1]

the only reason the drums sound like garbage is because they have sat in my basement since i left for school
and i didnt feel like tuning them up

[MidiPunk]

Originally Posted by gdavi1

the only reason the drums sound like garbage is [...] i didnt feel like tuning them

Can I PLEASE have your permission to print and frame that?

[Rimshot]

Originally Posted by gdavi1

the only reason the drums sound like garbage is because they have sat in my basement since i left for school
and i didnt feel like tuning them up

I'm speechless................................

[gdavi1]

hahaha dont worry the kit i brought with me to school gets tuned often and i replace its heads once a month

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by gdavi1

hahaha dont worry the kit i brought with me to school gets tuned often and i replace its heads once a month

I think I want to print THAT one.

I almost never change the heads on my kit. Yep, Blasphemy. But then again - I see these guys with dented up tom heads and I'm thinking - "Dude, what in the heck are you doing? learn how to hit the drum!" I stated playing drums 30 years ago, and the only time I ever had a dented up drumhead is when I tried using a snare-side head on the top of a drum. (I was a kid and didn't know it was an extremely thin head.)

To me, putting new heads on every month is just throwing your money away.

The only time I personally would put new heads on, would be if I were actually going to record and release a CD.

I haven't actually broken a drumhead since I was 18 - and even then I punched through the drum when my guitarist told us he was quitting the band.(I was pissed because we had a label interested in us.)


Tim

[gdavi1]

i hit hard and they take a beating and i always notice a great increase in sound and feel when i replace them

[Greg_L]

I hit pretty hard, too hard probably, and I don't wear out a head in a month. I play every day and gig about 2 or 3 times a month. I'm thinking you're either lying, unnnecessarily changing heads too often, or don't know how to tune the drums if you're getting that drastic of a change in sound from a head change after one month..

[gdavi1]

i think that i sit around all day playing and playing

and seeing that every goes
its so expensive for heads and blah blah blah


i replace my snare batter and my floor tom

two drum heads

not that much

[Greg_L]

Originally Posted by gdavi1

i think that i sit around all day playing and playing

and seeing that every goes
its so expensive for heads and blah blah blah


i replace my snare batter and my floor tom

two drum heads

not that much

Well it certainly hasn't helped your drum sound. Get back to work.

[gdavi1]

thats not my drumset i recorded
its my drummer's for my sideproject

and lets jsut chill out theres no reason to argue over drums